Crate.



A: HOVORKA.

CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1913. 1,081,831. Patented Dee. 16, 1913,

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ANTON HOVORKA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. 16, 1913.

Application led January 20, 1913. Serial No. 743,113.

To all fie/0m t may concern:

Be it known that I, VAirroiv HovonKA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ot' Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to knoekdown crates having pivotally connected side and end walls and a removable top and bottom, and its object is to provide a novel and improved fastening for the top and bottom o't the crate, whereby said parts are securely held in place when the crate is set up, and which also permits said parts to bc easily and quickly removed when it is desired to ifold the crate.

ln order that the invention may be fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a plan view ot' the crate. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an end view. Fig. l is a detail in perspective showing the fastening for the top.

As shown in the drawing the walls ot the crate are constructed of slats, the side walls comprising top and bottom slats 10 and 11, respectively, connected by laterally spaced vertical slats 12, the latter being secured to the inner faces ot the top and bottom slats. rlhe end walls are composed of top and bottom slats 13 and 14, respectively, and vertical slats l5 connected in the same manner as the slats l'orming the side walls.

The side and end walls are hinged together' at their meeting vertical edges by means oit linked staples 1G. Any other suitable hinge or pivot connection may be provided.

The top of the crate constructed of a pair of longitudinal side slats 17 connected by transverse slats 1S, the latter being secured to the bottom of the former.

The bottom ot the crate is constructed .in the same manner as the top.

The sidewalls of the crate are higher than the end walls, and the top is dimensioned so that it tits between the vertical slats 12 of the side walls and rests on the top slats 13 of the end walls. The bottom fits in a similar manner between the side walls and against the bottom edge of the bottom slats 14.- oit the end walls.

The top and bottom are not permanently fastened to the side and end walls of the crate, but are removable thereiirom in order that said side and end walls may be folded. The following means is provided ier fastenmg the top in place when the crate is set up for use: ln the inner 'face ol the top slats 10 are vertical grooves in which are mounted stems 19 having lateral bends 2O and S21, respectively, at their ends, said bends being in opposite directions and forming hooks. The extremity ot the bend 21 has a downward bend 22 lor a purpose to be presently described. The grooves in which the stems are mounted are in that portion of the slats 10 which is lapped bv the vertical slats 12, the latter thereforeicovering the grooves and serving to retain the stems therein. The stems are loose in the grooves so that they may be rotated therein. The hooks 21 are so located that they may engage the top of the crate when said top is in place, and the hooks 2O are adapted to en gage under the top slat 10. The slats 17 have top grooves 23 forming seats for the hooks 21, said grooves having deepened portions at their inner ends to receive the terminall portions 22 of said hooks. t The tztistening inealns ii'or the crate bot- ,om are ic same as tie o "i :"1 es in described. t p listening., here Before fastening the top in place, the stems 19 are turned so that the hooks 21 extend obliquely across the top edge of the slats l2 without projecting beyond the inner :face thereof, with the terminal 22 extending alongside one of the vertical edges oi' said slats. lVith the itastenings in this position, the crate is unobstructed on the inside, and the top may be put in place without interference. After putting` the top in place, the hooks 21 are swmig around to seat in the grooves 9.3, the terminals seating in the deepened portions thereof. By pressing down on the top, the hooks may be swung around into holding position. The hooks can also he made resilient so that they may be sprung into holdingposition. When the hooks 21 are placed in holdingl position, the hooks 20 come into position beneath the slats 10, which completes the :lastening. The top is now securely held in place but it can be easily and Quickly removed by swingingthe hooks back to clear the top of the crate and the slats lO.

Curved grooves 2li, extending 'from the inner edge 0f the slats 17 to the deepened portions of the grooves 23 may be provided for facilitating the operation of the fastenings.

I claim:

1. A crate having side walls composed of top and bottom slats and vertical slats oonnecting the same, said vertical slats lapping the top slats on one side, and the lapped portions of said top slats having grooves, stems rotatably mounted in the grooves and having oppositely extending hooks at their ends,

and a removable top for the crate, said top fitting between the side walls and having seats to receive the hooks on one end of the aforesaid stems, the hooks on the other end of the stems engaging beneath the aforesaid top slats of the side walls when the firstmentioned hooks engage their seats.

2. A crate having side walls composed of top and bottom slats and vertical slats connecting the same, said vertical slats lapping the top slats on one side, and the lapped portions of said top slats having grooves, stems rotatably mounted in the grooves and having oppositely extending hooks at their f ends, and a removable top for the crate, said top fitting between the side walls and being engageable by the hooks on one end of the aforesaid stems, the hooks on the other ends of the stems engaging beneath the aforesaid top slats of the side walls- 3. A crate having side walls composed of top and bottom slats and vertical slats connecting the same, said vertical slats lapping the top slats on one side, and the lapped portions of said top slats having grooves, stems rotatably mounted in the grooves and having oppositely extending hooks at their ends, the hooks at one end of the stems having inturned extremities, and a removable top for the crate, said top fitting between the side walls and having grooves to receive the hooks having the inturned extremities, said grooves having deepened portions to receive said extremities, the hooks on the other end of the stems engaging beneath the aforesaid top slats of the side walls when the first mentioned hooks engage the top.

4:. A crate having side walls composed of top and bottom slats and vertical slats connecting .the same, said vertical slats lapping the top slats on one side, and the lapped portions of said top slats having grooves, stems mounted in the grooves and having oppositely extending hooks at their ends, the hooks at one end of the stems having in turned. extremities, and a removable top for the crate, said top fitting between the side walls and having grooves to receive the hooks having the inturned extremities, said grooves having deepened portions to receive said extremities, the hooks on the other end of the stems engaging beneath the aforesaid top slats of the side walls when the first mentioned hooks engage the top, said stems being rotatable to disengage the hooks, the hooks having the inturned extremities being adjustable to lie alongside one edge of the vertical slats of the side walls when disengaged from the top.

5. A crate having side walls composed of top and bottom slats and vertical slats connecting the same, said vertical slats lapping the top slats on one side, and the lapped portions of said top slats having grooves, stems mounted in the grooves and having oppositely extending hooks atl their ends, the hooks at one end of the stems having inturned extremities, and a removable top for the crate, said top fitting between the side walls and being engageable by the hooks having the inturned extremities, the hooks on the other end of the stems engaging beneath the aforesaid top slats of the side walls when the rst mentioned hooks engage the top, said stems being rotatable to disengage the hooks, the hooks having the in'- turned 'extremities being adjustable'to lie alongside one edge of the vertical slats of the side walls when disengaged from the top.

In testimony whereof I a'Hix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANTON HOVORKA.

/Vitnesses S. J. LEHRER, H. Gf. BAfroHnLoR.

opies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

